No matter who comes along, Babe Ruth will always be the greatest!

[wilheim]

Celaya - All of Babe's averages are figured the same as today's players. Example in 1927 Babe hit .356 on 192 hits in 540 at bats, he also walked 138 times (89 stikeouts). Add the walks and hits together and he would have hit around .490. For his entire career Babe hit .342 on 2873 hits in 8399 at bats with 2056 walks (1330 strike outs). Walks were counted as hits in the 1800's by the turn of the century baseball started treating walks as they do today - for example in 1901 - Honus Wagner hit .353 on 196 hits in 556 at bats with 53 walks.

wil.

 

[Journeyman]

What are you talking about man? You don`t think guys like Ruth a Gehrig would be great in modern day baseball? Players didn`t start using supplements really heavy until the 90`s anyway...Baseball is the one game , you can be any size and be great at it...So why would Babe Ruth not be great today?
The ball was still pitched back then , if anything pitching is worse now....Pitchers can only go 6-7 innings now...Yes in Ruth`s era he did get to see a tied starter, but so what, half the relievers today are horrible!

 

[Celaya]

Thanks Wil, I stand corrected. Peace.

 

[scottyz]

Ruth used a heavy bat, over 40 ounces!! The only player that I know of in modern times, who swung that kind of lumber was Richie Allen.

 

[wilheim]

Let me know when any other baseball player gets an entry in Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Main Entry: Ruth - Ruth·ian /'rü-thE-&n/ adjective
Pronunciation: 'rüth
Function: biographical name
George Herman 1895-1948 Babe Ruth or the Babe American baseball player; outfielder, New York Yankees (1920-34); hit 60 home runs in 1927 (record for 154-game season) and 714 in career.

wil.

 

[MrTeaser]

Didn't Ruth hit more home runs then some teams? it's a no brainer, he's the greatest.

 

[wilheim]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Hey Wil, isn't that second picture of the Babe really George Sisler? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Luca, not sure, but is not the Babe, I took it out. I found it in a gallery of Babe Ruth pics.


Thanks, wil.

 

[Journeyman]

I would love to see Babe`s BATTING stats for his career , WHEN HE PITCHED...

Anywhere to find these particular numbers?

 

[wilheim]

In 1918 the last time the Red Sox won a world Series, Babe pitched and played outfield, plus 13 games at 1st.

Pitching he was 13-7 in 20 starts with and ERA of 2.22. in the world series he was 2-0 with an ERA of 1.06.

At the plate Babe hit an even .300 with 11 homers (most in baseball that year)and 66 RBI.
In the series he only batted 5 times with a single hit.


wil.

 

[Journeyman]

Since we`re on the subject of Babe Ruth...

I never paid much attention to his pitching achievements...amazing the greatest hitter only batted 5 times in the World Series...

I wonder how many homers its estimated Babe lost while being a pitcher in his early years?

 

[wilheim]

JM - I thought that info was what you wanted. Before 1918, Babe did not play the field, he only pitched. In 4 years he hit 8 homers, and batted close to .300 soley as a pitcher. In 1918 he did both, pitch and play the field.


wil.

 

[Journeyman]

Thanks...thats amazing

I guess he really didn`t lose that many homers , because of the dead ball...maybe 50 more homeruns...

And a WS-14 inning complete game...WOW!

That will probably never happen again!

 

[barman]

Well RFunk, you sure know how to pull a Sparky Lyle and take a poop on the birthday cake!

RUTH hit against dudes that threw legal spitters. (The spitter was outlawed in 1920?(wil?), but a number of existing pitchers got a 'grandfather' clause which allowed them and them only to continue just lubing the ball up like a Nerf in a swimming pool...

RUTH hit in the dark in many late afternoon games that umpires didn't want to suspend until the next day.

RUTH took advantage of the so called 'short porch' of Yankee Stadium, but played in plenty of parks with centerfield fences of 415-440 feet away (410 is the absolute longest I know of today). And as for the aforementioned 'short porch' strangely, only Mickey Mantle has threatened (and in his case surpassed) 500 homeruns in 70 years of subsequent NY Yankees....so we're not too sold on the SP concept.....

 

[RobFunk]

alright, alright. . .how fast did pitchers throw back then? and be honest.

i guess i am wrong. that swing just looks awful though and his build is very funny looking i just dont see how he could be good in todays game but if he had to hit 95 mph heat back then, i will admit i am wrong. i mean if you just watch the film without knowing the accomplishments it does not impress what so ever. and he runs really funny with his wrists up near his head and his hands flapping up and down like a penguin. whats the big deal?!?!

 

[Journeyman]

"lubing it up, like a Nerf in a swimming pool" HAHA....You have a way with words Barman!

 

[barman]

Rob, you need to consider the level of technologyy for moving pictures in the 1920s. Anything happening at significant speed looked herky jerky.

And pitchers back then threw just as hard.

Walter Johnson was known to throw over 100 mph.

Ruth was 6'1 220.....Not so funny a build...But again, the uniforms of the day weren't exactly high fashion.

 

[wilheim]

America in the first 4 decades of the last century was baseball crazy. While no black players were able to play in the US nearly every white kid with any atheletic ability wanted to play in the big leagues. Were they some great atheletes playing baseball in 1920 of course they were. To hear oldtimers talk about Ruth you get the impression that he was super human, but you had to actually see him in his prime to believe it. Barman, correct the spitter was outlawed in 1920, but pitchers already in the majors who used it could continue.


wil.

 

[RobFunk]

what the heck are "greenies" that have been rumored to have been used in other decades of play?

 

[wilheim]

Greenies are amphetimines. Dexadrine I think.


wil.